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Pleasant, bright light for any period of time is expensive when you're using batteries.
Annoyingly, the small linear fluorescents are all cool white - though not as harsh as LEDs .. My little single tube one from the camping shop takes a third of an amp from a 12 volt battery so is actually running at half power - 4 watts - you should get 250 hours' use from a 110A/H leisure battery (assuming you only use 3/4 of its capacity). (which should see most people through a month or two
I have a couple of 3.7AH NiMH packs which cost me £20 and would keep that lamp lit for maybe 8 hours on a charge - the charger cost me £16.
Even more annoyingly, the electronics in a domestic compact fluorescent lamp wouldn't take a vast amount of changing so that you could power the lamp from 12 volts .. I've learned to saw them open and connect them to different electronics - but clearly that option isn't available to many people.
They have a pleasant warm colour these days ...
Since I plan to have EHU as much as possible, I will be using a 20 watt Ecolight minispiral for my main light.
Modded for 12 volts that would last 50 hours on a 110AH battery ...
How often do you use it? We have a rechargeable flourescent, I think it might be discontinued as we've had it 3 years. Anyway I think its our 3rd rechargeable, the other 2 didn't last, but then I read that if you leave the lamp without charging/discharging for a while it will lose its ability to charge. This one we had in regular use under the stairs for ages, and now I make sure to get it out and use it now and again and its still going.
We have had it for 3yrs and got it from Halfords for £14.99 - though I think they may not stock them anymore cos I can never find them.
We have found that it lasts for a very long time once fully charge and it holds charge really, really well. We last charged ours over 6 months ago and when I was showing a friend (who camps and is looking for a new light) the other day it was still working well - very bright too.
You get to choose one or two lights and to run it from electric supply or it's own rechargeable battery - it does need to be charged overnight before first use.
It will hang or you can stand it up as it has a stand like a picture frame has (if that make sense)
I think Argos have something similar for around £14.99 though in the catalogue it looks smaller. We were thinking of getting another one so if one runs out we have a spare. It's not in the camping section but in the tools section.
Have tried the wind up lanterns with LED lights but don't find them bright enough and you have to keep winding them every 10 mins or so (unless we have a duff one).
I can only suppose that lamp under-runs the tubes - even one of them would only run for (6x4)/18 = 1.33 hours ...
If that lamp uses three 4AH Cyclon cells, it's something of a bargain - I might give one a go. It would certainly explain the optimum shelf life and capacity - they're the creme de la creme of lead acids.
For some reason all three 12 volt fluorescent lamps I've played with so far run at half power - possibly because they tend to have fairly crude inverters that don't pre-warm the tubes, also quite often the tubes aren't easily replaceable so they're aiming for long life.
Quote: Originally posted by Installer on 20/7/2008
We use these Click here charge them from car.
Well just bought one of these today off e bay .... :)
Ready for the off now :)
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A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Camping Light ...
